Feed aggregator

Brody Adds Music City Duties For Midwest Communications

Radio+Television Business Report - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 13:30

He’s a graduate of the University of Tennessee and began his career in radio in 2001 as a marketing consultant. Twenty years later, he was named VP/GM of Midwest Communications’ Knoxville stations.

Now, he’s been promoted and is taking on a regional role that sees him assume leadership responsibilities for the privately held company’s Nashville stations.

Michael Brody is now VP of the Tennessee Region for Midwest, giving him oversight of both Knoxville and Nashville.

Commenting on the move is Chief Operations Officer Michael Wright. “Michael Brody has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership in his Knoxville role as VP/Market Manager,” he said. “We are pleased to announce his promotion to Vice President of our Tennessee Region. Michael’s expertise, vision, and proven record make him the ideal candidate to lead our Tennessee stations in.”

Brody commented, “I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of our outstanding team in Nashville. With a proven history of winning built upon the foundation of great people and great products, I am honored by the confidence our leadership has placed in me. Together, we will continue to drive excellence and innovation, ensuring that our community thrives and our company flourishes.”

Midwest’s Knoxville stations are comprised of Classic Rock WIMZ-FM, Adult Contemporary WJXB “B97.5,” Adult Hits WNFZ “94.3 JACK FM,” and Classic Country WDKW “95.7 DUKE FM.” The Nashville radio stations are comprised of WCJK “96.3 JACK FM,” WJXA-FM “MIX 92.9” and WNFN “Y’All 106.7.”

Midwest entered the two Tennessee markets in 2014 thanks to a multi-market $72 million deal with South Central Communications, brokered by Kalil & Co. Brody stayed with the stations following their sale to Midwest.

Categories: Industry News

Twin Spins For Pie Masters At TV

Radio+Television Business Report - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 12:59

March Madness (insert registered trademark here) is upon us, and that means stepping up the advertisements designed to entice hungry fans to get some eats. In the case of Domino’s, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments led the delivery-fueled pizza and quick-eats brand to step up its spot plays at both broadcast and cable television.

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Categories: Industry News

Inovonics Has New Dynamic RDS Encoder

Radio World - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 11:00

Inovonics will debut a second-generation INOmini RDS encoder at the 2024 NAB Show.

The INOmini 704 is a hardware product in a 1/3-rack width format. The company calls it an easy and reliable way for radio broadcasters to add dynamic RDS messaging.

“The model 704 is somewhat historic for Inovonics, in that it is replacing the model 703 which was the very first INOmini product produced by the manufacturer and introduced at NAB in 2009,” it said in the announcement.

It said setup and programming are straightforward, and emphasized its dynamic Web interface with full diagnostics.

It’s for use on mono or stereo stations and is compatible with standard playout systems. The 704 identifies the radio station by format, displays the station’s “street name” and continuously updates the Artist and Song Title as provided by the playout system through a network connection.

It retails for $990.

Info: www.inovonicsbroadcast.com/product/704

 

The post Inovonics Has New Dynamic RDS Encoder appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Media Broker Heymann To Moderate NAB Show Session

Radio+Television Business Report - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 10:58

A Media Services Group Managing Director based in Chicago will moderate a 2024 NAB Show session devoted to the radio and television M&A landscape, building on a conversation he had as a Forecast 2024 panelist in November.

Bob Heymann will moderate the panel, “M&A’s Outlook on TV/Radio – a Look at the M&A
Landscape and How to Prepare for Buying and Selling’s Impact,” at 11:30am on April 15.

“I am truly honored to speak at this years NAB Show,” Heymann said. “I hope
to impart some of my knowledge of the station marketplace in an informative and
engaging manner.”

Heymann’s session is scheduled to last 50 minutes and will be in the West Hall, session room 231-232.

Panelists as of March 25 were not publicly announced.

 

Categories: Industry News

Brian Wieser On U.S. Advertising: Good Now, But Not For Radio/TV?

Radio+Television Business Report - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 10:30

PORTLAND, ORE. — When it comes to fully assessing where U.S. media advertising is heading, Brian Wieser, founder of Madison & Wall, is perhaps one of the nation’s foremost analysts. He’s taken a close look at the advertising economy over the last few months, and Wieser’s assessment is a positive one: He’s raised his expectations for the advertising industry in 2024, but is broadcast media along for the ride?

Not necessarily.

 

Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

Categories: Industry News

A Sky High Sale For El Paso’s Christian Station

Radio+Television Business Report - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 09:59

An AM radio station with an FM translator and an FM serving a small area of New Mexico between Las Cruces and the Texas state line — possessing its own FM translator serving the El Paso metropolitan area — are heading to a new licensee.

It involves the changing of the board for a Christian noncommercial operation, and the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the transaction happen.

KELP Radio, comprised of Class B KELP-AM 1590 in El Paso, Tex., and FM translator K240ER at 95.9 MHz and KELP-FM 89.3 in Mesquite, N. Mex., plus FM translator K269GF at 101.7 MHz in El Paso, are being sold to On Earth Media by Sky High Broadcasting and Pamela McClatchey.

She serves as President and Director of Sky High while also serving as the owner of McClatchey Broadcasting. That entity is the licensee of the AM; Sky High is the licensee of the FM.

Earlier this month, On Earth and McClatchey executed the asset purchase agreement, which sees On Earth taking on control of KELP via a time brokerage arrangement.

Terms call for a purchase price of $634,744, payable via a promissory note bearing 3% interest to be paid out in equal installments of $4,166.67 over 16 years. This puts the total payment at $800,001.64. A $2,000 escrow deposit has been made and is being held by Lone Star Title Company of El Paso.

Additionally, at closing the sum of $400,000 in cash is due to McClatchey for the real estate associated with KELP Radio.

The deal also includes a purchase price adjustment/prorations and dispute resolution section, which appears as follows:

There is no broker or finder in this transaction, which will see David Keith Kaufmann and Andrew Charles Frecka each of 50% equity interest in On Earth Media.

Categories: Industry News

Barix Introduces LX400 AoIP Broadcast Codec

Radio World - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 08:28

Barix is adding to its line of audio over IP encoders and decoders. The LX400 for broadcast, to be shown at the NAB Show, is for STL, studio-to-studio and other audio networking applications.

“Benefits include an array of premium-quality software codec options, including Opus, AACplus and PCM for uncompressed transmission,” Barix states.

“The LX400’s inclusion of the Opus codec is especially attractive given its high-efficiency bitrate performance, ensuring broadcasters the best possible audio quality for compressed transmission.”

Features include end-to-end delay control for RTP streaming, adherence to the latest security standards (HTTPS) and stream redundancy modes for uninterrupted broadcasting. The LX400 also enhances buffering performance for Icecast streams, ensuring consistent playback.

The LX400 is configurable as an encoder or decoder and is compatible with the Reflector EVO service for full-duplex audio contribution and distribution in the cloud.

For more traditional point-to-point applications, the LX400 can be ordered with optional Barix STL firmware. Power redundancy is assured through the availability of PoE and 24VDC service, for those who want to use the network as their primary device powering option.

Features include eight dry contact inputs, eight output relays, a digital audio output and a USB port for local music playout direct from the device when configured as a decoder.

NAB Show Booth: C2348

The post Barix Introduces LX400 AoIP Broadcast Codec appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

AEQ Introduces the Solaris Codec

Radio World - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 05:00

New from AEQ is Solaris, a high-density multi-channel audio codec that will be introduced at the spring NAB Show.

Solaris is intended for multiple STL links, remote contributions and other broadcast applications. It can be purchased with eight bidirectional stereo channels and upgraded in groups of eight channels, to build up to 64 channels in a single 1RU 19-inch form factor. 

Audio I/O is via IP using Dante (AES-67 compatible). Redundancy can be added with a second Ethernet port where required.

Audio coding algorithms include Opus in various flavors, G.722, G.711 and uncompressed PCM audio (16 bit). Several MPEG-4 AAC modes plus apt-X are available as licensed options.

Communications can be established using SIP, either server-based or serverless, or RTP.

Calls can be made manually, using an internal directory or from a list of prior calls per channel. 

The unit can be controlled remotely using a Web interface that allows configuration and operation of the unit. Diagnostics tools are included such as Syslog, SNMP, CPU load and memory usage. AEQ plans to support integration with ControlPhoenix.

NAB Show Booth: C3106

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]

The post AEQ Introduces the Solaris Codec appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Dielectric Premieres DCR-E Antenna

Radio World - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 05:00

Dielectric says its new DCR-E FM antenna fills the gap between its lowest-power DCR-T model and higher-power DCR-C, DCR-M, DCR-S and DCR-U ring antennas, bringing many of the design and performance characteristics to radio stations that need input power ratings up to 4 kW per bay.

The DCR-E element is based on the DCR-T, which means that the company can produce DCR-E antennas under tight deadlines. The common parts of the two antennas allow Dielectric to minimize parts inventory, passing cost savings to customers and making the DCR-E affordable for all FM budgets. 

The most notable design difference of the DCR-E is a pressurized balun, which increases its power rating by four times in comparison to the DCR-T. 

As with other DCR antennas, the DCR-E is lightweight, with a robust structure and low windload, increasing reliability, simplifying maintenance and reducing stress on tower and/or building structures. The design architecture is scalable to 12 bays, with each bay weighing 18 pounds, making traditional mounting and installation simple. 

The DCR-E offers stackable bay designs in center- or end-fed configurations, flexible wavelength spacings, and null fill and beam tilt options. Optional radomes protect the DCR-E from icing and other weather-related damage.

NAB Show Booth: W3333

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]

The post Dielectric Premieres DCR-E Antenna appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Davicom Launches the Neuro Series

Radio World - Mon, 03/25/2024 - 05:00

Davicom offers an ecosystem of remote site management products for broadcasters. At the NAB Show, it will show Neuro, a new rackable box that allows you to mix and match GPIO boards to give you the I/O count you need.

The box occupies one rack unit and is three inches deep. The GPIO boards are inserted into five independent slots in the chassis. Available boards are the NIO-8A for eight analog inputs, NIO-8D for eight digital inputs and the NIO-5R for five relay outputs.

The Neuro can be ordered with various combinations of NIO boards to allow for a maximum of 40 analog inputs, 40 digital inputs or any combination in between. (One Neuro can accept a maximum of two NIO-5R boards. In this case, the three other slots can be populated with combinations of NIO-8A and NIO-8D boards.)

The compact Neuro can be used for any application where general-purpose I/O (GPIO) is required. Sensor readings and status inputs can be monitored and used to automatically control actions on output relays.

The unit’s operating firmware includes Jobs (or State Machines) that detect input conditions and initiate specific combinations of actions. Math functions can calculate VSWR, averages, decibels and other parameters. Schedulers and timers can trigger events or actions. Counters can compile events and trigger alarms. These operations can be combined or cascaded to produce smart functions at remote sites. Network pings are also included.

The Neuro has a built-in SNMP agent to allow monitoring and control (via GETs, SETs and TRAPs) from a central SNMP manager, such as Davicom’s Cortex Series.

NAB Show Booth: W3253

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]

The post Davicom Launches the Neuro Series appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Applicant Unable to Overturn Dismissal of New Hampshire LPFM

Radio World - Sun, 03/24/2024 - 08:30

A New Hampshire non-profit was unable to convince the FCC to overturn the rejection of its application from the 2023 LPFM window.

Latino Public Radio hoped to broadcast on 97.9 FM from an antenna site just south of Nashua. It wanted to air news, information, and educational content to the Latino community there.

The FCC Media Bureau dismissed its application in January, saying it would violate second-adjacent spacing requirements in respect to 97.5 WOKQ(FM), a Class B signal licensed to Dover.

The commission said the proposed tower site would be 66 kilometers from WOKQ. Its spacing requirement is 67 kilometers or around 42 miles.

Latino Public Radio submitted a petition for reconsideration at the end of January. It argued that the short-spacing was “merely 30 meters” and said a simple data entry error on the part of its consulting engineer had resulted in the placement of its proposed antenna being too close to WOKQ. It provided an updated set of coordinates that it said would make the application a singleton worthy of the commission’s reconsideration.

But the FCC has denied Latino Public Radio’s request.

It said the original application violated second-adjacent requirements and that the organization had failed to submit a suitable waiver request under the Local Community Radio Act.

The commission also dismissed Latino Public Radio’s coordinate adjustment. It held firm that “errors of technical assistants” are not an excuse for failure to adhere to the rules. The application’s status as a singleton was also not grounds in the commission’s assessment for reconsideration.

As has been the case in several similar dismissed cases from the 2023 window, the commission said it will only consider a petition that points to an error in its original judgment or facts not known at the time the application was filed.

Thus Latino Public Radio’s petition for reconsideration was denied.

(Read the decision.)

The post Applicant Unable to Overturn Dismissal of New Hampshire LPFM appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Broadcast Radio Offers Hybrid Radio

Radio World - Sun, 03/24/2024 - 05:00

Broadcast Radio, which will exhibit at the NAB Show for the first time this year, said its Hybrid Radio solution is now available for stations that want to blend traditional studio shows with cloud-based radio playout and the option for non-web dependent “edge playout” at point of transmission.

“The Cloud / Studio Hybrid model provides seamless synchronization between studio- based radio software (Myriad Playout 6) and native cloud playout (Myriad Cloud),” it stated.

“Radio shows can be broadcast directly from the studio OR from the Myriad Cloud system with further contribution from remote sources or presenters, either live or voice tracked, available regardless of where the show originates.”

It said the new Myriad Edge application offers an extra dimension to the concept by introducing a lightweight “headless” daemon that synchronizes content and schedule from the Cloud / Studio Hybrid but plays all content locally, even if the web connection is unavailable. 

Myriad Edge also includes synchronized station Clocks and Rules, allowing it to schedule content as required in the event of a prolonged loss of internet service. Myriad Edge can be positioned in radio control rooms or at transmission sites with intermittent internet access.

The company also will be adding Myriad DR to the Hybrid range. This allows stations to maintain a “warm” backup of content and schedule, which is automatically synchronized in near real-time from their main broadcast site. In the event of an emergency or planned maintenance, the system can take over broadcasting duties. 

NAB Show Booth: W2445

[For More News on the NAB Show See Our NAB Show News Page]

The post Broadcast Radio Offers Hybrid Radio appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Nation Broadcasting, Xperi Partner on U.K. Radio App

Radio World - Sat, 03/23/2024 - 14:21

Starting in June, Nation Broadcasting will begin offering Nation Player, a new radio aggregator app powered by Xperi’s All In Media (AIM) Player technology. The app will be open radio operators and major podcast producers looking to reach U.K. audiences.

According to Xperi, Nation Player will allow listeners to switch between live commercial radio broadcasts and podcasts easily.

Several stations already committed to joining the app include Tindle Radio, Sunrise Radio, Panjab Radio, Countryline: The Big 615, Podcast Radio, Fun Kids, Dee Radio and Silk Radio. The player also features all of Nation Broadcasting’s channels and brand extensions.

“As streamed listening share accelerates, the in-car, connected experience becomes critical for listeners. We wanted to build a platform that is united and industry wide,” stated Nation Broadcasting Executive Chairman Jason Bryant. “With Xperi, we’ve delivered a best-in-class app, offering partner broadcasters the best experience for their listeners and a chance to share a collaborative revenue model with our content partners.”

Together with the Nation Player announcement, Xperi noted it is bringing its AIM Rapid Four middleware platform to Europe. Introduced in 2022 in North America, Rapid is used by more than 500 stations to deliver visuals to car dashboards, home receivers and mobile apps.

For the European market, Rapid has been made compatible with other platforms, notably DAB+. Other features of Rapid Four include support for visual advertising, support for multiple platforms/streams, and inclusion of licensed album artwork from TiVo.

[Visit Radio World’s News and Business Page]

The post Nation Broadcasting, Xperi Partner on U.K. Radio App appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Special Glasses Won’t Help in an “Internet Eclipse”

Radio World - Sat, 03/23/2024 - 05:00

Radio World’s “Guest Commentaries” section provides a platform for industry thought leaders and other readers to share their perspective on radio news, technological trends and more. If you’d like to contribute a commentary, or reply to an already published piece, send a submission to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The author is the founder of Information Station Specialists — theRADIOsource.com, which makes specialized components for broadcasters and Traveler’s Information Stations for government agencies.

On April 8, the moon’s shadow will slice an arc across North America from Mexico to Maine. Some 3.7 million eclipse enthusiasts are expected to crowd that 120-mile-wide corridor to view “totality” before turning to depart in a mass exodus.

But no one will part this sea of vehicles. Gridlock is inevitable. First-responders expect to have difficulty reaching those who need help. It’s anticipated that food, fuel and medical services could be in short supply. Three counties in Texas have already issued local states of emergency, preparing for a doubling of their populations in the days around the event.

But worse could be the communications gridlock. The eclipse will happen where it happens, without regard for cell-tower-capacity. Cellular services — especially in lower-capacity areas — may overload, leaving both travelers and residents without the ability to make calls. Cellular is the gateway to the internet, especially for those on wheels. When it is maxed out, everything from the delivery of wayfinding assistance, to weather warnings, to emergency notices could be impacted.

Broadcasters have a unique opportunity to stand in the gap. That fact is recognized even internationally, with the U.N.’s UNESCO agency recently identifying broadcasters as a “vital lifeline” and encouraging the worldwide “protection of emergency radio frequencies for the public dissemination of vital information.”

Closer to home, this reality is amplified by bipartisan support for the “AM for Every Vehicle Act,” requiring all automobiles sold in the United States to have AM radio receivers conspicuously in their dashboards. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Josh Gottenheimer of New Jersey, has predicted, “It’s on its way to becoming law.” Until passage, Gottenheimer is calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to label vehicles without AM receivers as “unsafe in certain emergencies.”

Local public safety officials see the need for communications resiliency clearly. Four counties near Indianapolis — Hendricks, Morgan, Shelby and Boone — have stepped up, instituting their own Travelers Information Radio Stations (TIS) not only for the eclipse, but in anticipation of future wireless service outages.

Morgan County has installed a higher-efficiency AM antenna to bolster their signal coverage over Interstate 69, which parallels the eclipse-path through the county. Shelby and Hendricks Counties will also stream their TIS radio programming to the internet: PCs and network-connected devices are less likely to be affected by service volume than mobile phones. 

Disruption of wireless service is more often the result of a natural disaster than an eclipse. The recent lengthy outage on Maui is a case in point. But a cyberattack due to malicious activity or war could be way worse. It could eclipse not only the wireless infrastructure but the internet itself, presenting the potential to be dramatically more devastating. Its duration, its scope and its geography could be massive in comparison. 

Just one month ago, a congressional committee was reminded that bad actors in other countries are targeting our infrastructure, intending to cause “real-world harm” to U.S. citizens. Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), advised the committee that Americans need to prepare for an unexpected cyberattack. 

Consider how your broadcast company, your safety agency and you yourself can aid in awareness and preparation. Unlike a natural phenomenon, this approaching shadow is not one that can be predicted to the second. But, as our leaders are advising, it can be predicted. 

[Read More Guest Commentaries Here]

The post Special Glasses Won’t Help in an “Internet Eclipse” appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Applications

FCC Media Bureau News Items - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 21:00
.

Pleadings

FCC Media Bureau News Items - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 21:00
.

Actions

FCC Media Bureau News Items - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 21:00
.

RENEW Taylorsville, New LPFM, Taylorsville, Mississippi

FCC Media Bureau News Items - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 21:00
The Media Bureau affirms the dismissal of the application of RENEW Taylorsville for a new LPFM station at Taylorsville, Mississippi

Could Sacramento’s PBS Member Station Assume ‘CapRadio’ Control?

Radio+Television Business Report - Fri, 03/22/2024 - 15:40

In late September 2023, operations of the noncommercial spoken word and fine arts-focused stations under the CapRadio brand fell under the control of California State University-Sacramento. The move came after the school’s audit of CapRadio’s fiscal health found “substantial problems.”

The financial and operational struggle hasn’t ebbed, and the public broadcaster’s endowment leaders have proposed a wholesale transfer of control of CapRadio. Who should become the new licensee? Look no further than the PBS Member station serving the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto market.

As first reported by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink, Sacramento State is being asked to transfer its assets to the parent of KVIE-6, the PBS Member station with some 60,000 contributors providing it with 49% of its operating revenue. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting supplies KVIE with 11% of the dollars needed to operate in a fiscal year.

While the endowment suggests that Sacramento State part ways with its radio stations, the University has shown no inclination toward relinquishing CapRadio despite its openness to begin a dialogue with KVIE.

With KQED and KDFC to the west in the San Francisco Bay area and Valley Public Radio to the south in Fresno and Bakersfield, CapRadio covers a wide swath of the northern San Joaquin Valley. Spoken word programming can be heard on KXJZ-FM 90.9 in Sacramento and on repeater FMs in Quincy, Stockton and Tahoe City, Calif. The Classical programming is based at KXPR-FM 88.9 in Sacramento and rebroadcast on stations licensed to Groveland and Sutter, Calif.; an FM translator brings coverage to the City of Merced.

These 7 facilities are in financial distress due to what the school’s audit found to be significant financial mismanagement, including unauthorized loans exceeding $1.1 million, mismanaged credit cards, and unapproved acceptance of gifts. An investigation revealed a sharp increase in the station’s liabilities, soaring from about $5.5 million to over $27.2 million within a year.

The endowment’s letter to Sacramento State President Luke Wood, obtained by McClatchy Co. flagship publication The Sacramento Bee, underscores a collective desire among major donors for a sustainable path forward, emphasizing the potential benefits of a merger for the station, the university, and the local community. The Capital Public Radio Endowment owns $4 million in assets, including a transmission tower and land.

— Reporting by Cameron Coats and Adam R Jacobson 

Categories: Industry News

Pages

Subscribe to REC Networks aggregator